what woods should I use for a fretless?

[Josh Emmons]

Plan: I want a fretless 5 string that has an exotic top, and a jazz style body. I DO NOT care how heavy/light it is.

The sound I am looking for is a thick, full, warm fretless tone, and TONES of "mwah".

What neck wood should I use, and bolt on, set neck, or NT?
What top wood should I use?
What Body wood (main wood) should I use?
Also: What electronics would you suggest for a fretless with those tonal characteristics.

I know what the sound is that I want, and it will be a Jazz bass look. It doesn't need to sound like a Fender. Just needs to sound like I described. I am open to any wood, at any expense.

 

[groooooove]

top woods you have so many options. if you can get a particularly nice piece of quilted maple, that always looks good. recently i've grown to really love sapele as a top wood, its heavy though. cocobolo is another cool choice but its rough working with.

just throwing out my favorites, dont know what kind of look you want.

as far as fingerboards go, ebony would be smart. purpleheart may work depending on your color scheme. my favorite fretless fingerboards were "impregnated-" im not sure if this is a normal thing or not, but from what i understand its an epoxy thats soaked into the wood, then sanded down, so all the wood becomes a bit harder and glassier but not exactly like a jaco treatment.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Got any clips that'll help us hear the tone you're after?

I have two fretless electrics, both strung with TI flats. I set up my basses with enough string clearance and FB relief to eliminate most of the buzzing, so I'm not the one to comment on so-called "mwah:"

P-Bass - maple neck, rosewood FB: thick, full, warm, articulate, woody

Lakland 55-02 - maple neck, ebony FB: Warm, thick, full, articulate, woody.

Pre-amps, strings, and set-up can all have a HUGE impact on the sound of a fretless. But, it's mostly in the hands.

IMO, YMMV...

 

[allexcosta]

The sound I am looking for is a thick, full, warm fretless tone, and TONES of "mwah".

What neck wood should I use, and bolt on, set neck, or NT?
Pau-marfim would be my #1 choice as it doesn't warp or twist, maple a close second. Any joint will do it...
What top wood should I use?
It makes little difference, use what you find pretty.
What Body wood (main wood) should I use?
I like Persea Indica, also known as Vinhatico as it has plenty of low-mids that allow a nice and rich fretless tone.
Also: What electronics would you suggest for a fretless with those tonal characteristics.
Most Bartolini pickups sound great on a fretless IMO. I like passive fretless basses, but if you go active, get some preamp that is transparent.

Fretboard wood also plays a role. Pau-ferro sounds great on a fretless with lots of "mwah" and is very resistant to wear.

Hope this helps...

 

[Joshua]

Okey dokey, let's review a few things:

1) To the OP (great name!) - please let us handle the moderating.
2) To some gen'l responders - please let us handle the moderating (report, don't respond).

And in response to the actual subject, you would probably be best served identifying an actual recorded tone you are hoping to achieve (ie "Jaco's tone on Shadows & Light") then throwing out somewhat generic descriptors.

For example, I would describe my current Veillette Singlecut fretless 5 in much the same basic terms (as listed in the OP) if it helps, and it has an alder body, flame maple top, maple neck, pau ferro board, and Citron pickups. But I would also bet there are many paths to a similar tone goal.

Good luck!

 

[reverendrally]

Honestly, for max MOAW you cannot go past an epoxy coated board, which will probably negate most of the timber. In fact, the epoxy board will dominate the tone so much, you almost make the rest of the bass out of icecream...

If you don't want epoxy, then I'd copy something you know works and you like. Other than that it's very hit and miss. I have an ash/maple/rosewood TRB 5 bolt on that sounds real nice with stock yamaha electronics, but who knows what you'd think of it.

Play a whole bunch of different ones, copy the one you like the most and there's a good chance is will sound pretty close, but really like other have said, electronics, strings (choice and age) and your hands will make more difference than the timber.

 

[reverendrally]

sorry I meant, "you could ALMOST make the rest of the bass out of icecream"